Virginia Department of Education
Mendelian Genetics
How did Mendel know which pea plants would demonstrate certain characteristics? Pupils explore the answer this question, among others, as they complete Punnet squares, research dominant and recessive traits, and explore hereditary...
Curated OER
Activity: Gummy Bear Genetics
Who's your Daddy ... and Mommy for that matter? Given a first-generation group of gummy bear offspring, young scientists must determine which bears are their parents. An activity worksheet covers the differences in genotypes and...
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Socratic Questioning
If you are new to the technique of Socratic questioning, check out this resource that details the five steps in the Socratic method. The examples of each step are drawn from Brave New World.
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A Constructivist Version of the Snail & Elodea Lab
Students explain the importance of having a control when setting up an experiment.
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Lamarck And Darwin
Young scholars compare Lamarck's mechanism for evolution with Darwin's theory of natural selection.
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Our Universe: Designed or Evolved?
Students brainstorm and write arguments for Evolution and Intelligent Design. They research the history of each of these ideas. They also examine the controversy of teaching one or both ideas in schools.
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Mythbusters
Eighth graders watch an episode of Mythbusters and answer questions that arise in the video about the scientific process. In this Mythbusters lesson plan, 8th graders complete a scientific investigation based on the video.
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Pattern
Students describe examples of the relationship between structure and function in living systems, particularly with regard to specialized tissues and organs. They describe examples of biological diversity and adaptation of organisms with...
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Patterns In Time
Seventh graders examine fossils. In this vertebrate fossils lesson students view a demonstration.
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PATTERNS IN TIME
Students build a realistic sense of geological time, seek clues of transition fossils and find them. In this investigative lesson plan students complete several activities and worksheets on fossils.
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Why Is Evolution Controversial?
Students explore why evolution has always been a controversial topic. They use scientific process to determine patterns and to critically analyze alternative explanations for natural phenomena.
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Plurals
In this plurals worksheet, 7th graders review and discuss how to change regular nouns into plural nouns and change twelve ordinary nouns into plural nouns.
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A Scientific Approach to Teaching about Evolution
Middle schoolers examine fossils and analyzing their significance in relation to theories of evolution. Hand-outs are provided. This instructional activity could be supplementary to a broader unit on evolution or geology.
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Air Pollution Over Where?
Students predict the movement of an air borne pollutant using their understanding of air currents. They determine which governments and/or communities should be contacted to be forewarned. They also explore the properties of their...
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Hormone-Induced Plant Propagation Lab using Carrot Root Cultures
Learners evaluate the importance of hormones in living things. For this biology lesson, students experiment on carrots to differentiate how humans and plants reproduce. They collect data from experiment to answer analysis questions.
PBS
Pbs: Nova Labs: The Rna Origin of Life
Learn about the RNA world hypothesis through short animations, informational text, and interactive questions in this virtual lab.
Untamed Science
Untamed Science: Biology: Evolution: History of Life: Origins
Learn about the scientific hypotheses of the origin of life on Earth. [5:55]
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Action Bioscience: Life From Space: An Emerging Paradigm
Recognize that some people believe that life on Earth came from outer space. Learn about the support for these ideas and what could happen if life would continue to arrive from space.
Estrella Mountain Community College
Online Biology Book: Cells: Origins
Through full-color images and concise information, learn about the origin of cells. Discover some of the notable studies surrounding the history of life on Earth.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Biology: First Organic Molecules
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Examines how the first organic molecules were formed.